Series: The Archaeology of York

IntroductionReports on the work of the York Archaeological Trust for Excavation and Research undertaken from 1973 onwards are published as separate parts or fascicules making up a series of nineteen volumes entitled The Archaeology of York, covering all aspects from historical research and excavation to finds and environmental study.
Several of the published fascicules are now out-of-print; some of these are now being made available here as an online resource. It is hoped that more titles will be made available in due course.

Describes and interprets the structural sequence recorded during excavations on the site of the former Redfearn National Glass Factory in York. The first stage of settlement (dating from the late seventh or early-eighth century AD) showed evidence of a planned layout, and its location on the confluence of rivers, combined with artefactual evidence for craft industry and trade, is thought to indicate the existence of a trading wic, from which the name Eoforwic is derived. Occupation ended in the late-ninth century AD, when there may have been a population shift across the River Foss. A `Report on plant and invertebrate remains' is provided by Enid Allison, Allan Hall, Andrew Jones, Harry Kenward & Alan Robertson (85--105).

A review of all the archaeological evidence for the development of Anglian city. The `Historical evidence for Anglian York' is examined by David Rollason (117--40) and the background to `Roman York' is provided by Patrick Ottaway (141--50).

The pottery is from mostly well-stratified layers in post-Roman to 11th century deposits; it is introduced by an archaeological description of the site (by R A Hall) and information on the methodology, together with a discussion of the problems of residuality on this site. Distribution plots show the spatial patterning of certain wares and forms. There is no evidence of occupation in Anglian times, but a small number of sherds are of types usually assigned to the pre-Viking period. Wheel-thrown, probably locally made York wares dominate the assemblage from the earliest Anglo-Scandinavian levels, but are replaced in mid-lOth by Torksey-type wares. A century later Stamford and other regional imports are dominant. A few Continental imports and new groups of 10th and 11th century wares of unknown source are also noted. The assemblage provides information on the status and function of the four tenements involved, as well as valuable dating information.

Excavations by the York Archaeological Trust in 1976--81 produced a complex series of organic deposits, in which a wide range of organisms was preserved, especially for the ninth to eleventh centuries (Anglo-Scandinavian). The report starts with an account of the results of the excavations in `Archaeological introduction' by R A Hall (438--46). There was evidence for Roman occupation, with no reoccupation until the mid-ninth century. In the tenth century the area was divided into four tenements (A--D), possibly at the same time as the Coppergate street was laid out.A review of biological remains found elsewhere in York is next given, followed by the methods employed and lessons learned. The biological evidence consists of plant remains, worm eggs, insect remains, molluscs, other invertebrates, and vertebrates. A list of plants and animals (excluding vertebrates) is given. This is followed by the main part of the report, which documents the biological evidence from the site by period, usually by tenement and feature type. Each period ends with a summary and discussion. The earliest evidence described is for Period 3 (the earliest Anglo-Scandinavian phase, from mid-ninth century) and included material from pits which predated the tenements. Many of the deposits contained faecal matter, and there were small amounts of dyeplants. Period 4A, with a realignment of boundaries, is next analysed. Faecal matter was present in pits, and surface layers had been used for waste disposal, including food remains. Phase 4B saw a series of post and wattle structures erected within Tenements A--D along a street frontage. The range of taxa was similar to the previous periods, but there was also evidence for textile working or wool cleaning, some processing of flax, dyeplants and bees and beeswax.Period 5A was a short-lived reorganisation, with results similar to those from 4B. Period 5B had a series of partly sunken plank-built structures constructed, and contained deposits from floors, as well as deposits to the rear of the tenements. One pit had a wicker lining. This period was represented by woodland plants, dyeplants, and a range of food plants, and a concentration of honeybees was recorded. In Period 5C additional buildings were constructed. Many of the pits contained faecal matter and a wide range of foodplants. There was a change in function for many pits, which were possibly left open as sumps or wells.Lists are next given of samples and analyses of plant remains, insect remains, shellfish, fish bones, parasite eggs, and faecal concretions. The final part of the report is a discussion and synthesis of various themes, some by period, such as structural materials and features within buildings, pits, drains, gullies, plant foods, plants used as flavourings, evidence of health, bees and beeswax, dyeplants and textile working, water supply, and climate. LRA

The report presents results from a study of bone assemblages recovered from 8-9th century deposits associated with Anglian occupation and from a medieval priory of the Gilbertine order. Anglian samples were characterised by a very low diversity of taxa, with cattle clearly predominant. There is evidence of the organized and selective slaughter of young pigs. It is argued that the Anglian occupation differed from later urban sites in its provisioning strategy, and that it may have been a specialized trading settlement. There is some discussion of food production and redistribution in the Anglian period, and comparisons are drawn with other sites of similar date. The priory gave few useful bone assemblages. Slowly-forming soil accumulations yielded a wide variety of small mammals, amphibians and reptiles, with food taxa dominated by cattle and herrings. Sixteenth century deposits associated with the Dissolution gave distinctive and diverse assemblages with a wide range of game birds and fish, similar to assemblages of similar date from elsewhere in York. Includes a brief resumé of `The archaeology of 46-54 Fishergate' by R L Kemp (211-20). Au(adp)

Presents results of study of over 75 000 fragments of animal bones, hand-collected in thirty-three groups and dating from mid-9th to mid-11th century. Cattle were predominant, with smaller quantities of sheep and pig, and low frequencies of wild species (which included birds). A mixture of butchering activity and domestic refuse is deduced. There were more diverse wild birds and more pig bones in the later part of the period studied. Fish bones showed a heavy emphasis on eel and herring, with offshore catching increasing towards the end of the period. Frog was very common, black rat and house mouse consistently present. Comparison with other sites in N Europe showed no distinctively Scandinavian traits. Au (abr)

Presents a detailed analysis of the eleventh- to fifteenth-century bone assemblages from the site, and a synthesis of those data with assemblages of the same periods from ten other sites in the city. The sequence of occupation on each site is summarised in the following sections, respectively: `58--9 Skeldergate' by P V Addyman (303--4); `118--26 Walmgate' by D A Brinklow (304--5); `24--30 Tanner Row' by N F Pearson (305--6); `16--22 Coppergate' by R A Hall (306--10); `46--54 Fishergate' by R L Kemp (311--15); `The Bedern' by R A Hall (315--18); `The Bedern Foundry' by R A Hall (318--19); `1--5 Aldwark' by H MacGregor; `21--33 Aldwark, trench IX' by R A Hall (320); `1--2 Tower street' by P J Ottaway (320); and `9 Blake Street' by R A Hall (320--21).

Nearly 20 000 bones of Roman and med date were studied, including samples obtained by sieving. They give evidence of systematic butchery on a commercial scale during late 2nd-early 3rd century, with beef (including smoked/cured joints) predominating. Very young lambs and piglets were also slaughtered. House mouse, black rat, and garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus L), the latter probably imported from the Continent as a delicacy. Medieval bones were mixed domestic and craft/industrial debris, with goat horncores prominent. A large assemblage of frog bones was studied biometrically. A late Roman deposit of fish bones would suggest the production of fish sauce at St Mary Bishophill Junior, while the Rougier St medieval deposits showed a concentration on cod and similar fish.

Reports on wooden objects recovered from the Coppergate excavations, carried out between 1976 and 1981, but also includes material from subsequent watching brief on the site, along with other excavations at 22 Piccadilly and the Bedern. A summary report on the `Excavation at 16--22 Coppergate' is provided by R A Hall (2073--83), while subsequent findings are noted in `The watching brief' by N F Pearson (2083--4). `Excavation at 22 Piccadilly' [1987] is described by R Finlayson (2084--6) and `Excavations at the Bedern' [1973--80] are reported on by R A Hall (2086--9). `The conservation of the wooden artefacts' is discussed by J A Spriggs (2095--100). `Re-used medieval boat timbers found at Coppergate' are discussed by D M Goodburn (2379--82), with a note on the caulking by Penelope Walton Rogers (2379).

A report of some 6,000 objects made from a wide range of materials, including iron and non-ferrous metals, stone, glass and jet. The material reveals much about the economy and society of the medieval city. The finds are placed in the context of comparable medieval assemblages from around the whole of England. Features a catalogue of finds and includes separately authored reports on: